John 1:45 – 51

Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, we have found Jesus, of whom Moses and the prophets wrote in the law. Nathaniel reacted impulsively - ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him – ‘come and see’.

It was understood by all the people in Palestine during Jesus’ time, that when a Jew stood under a fig tree, it meant that he was ‘meditating the scriptures’. When Nathaniel met Jesus, Jesus looked at him and said, “Behold, an Israelite indeed in whom is no guile”.

Nathaniel stunned by the laudatory words of Jesus, asked Him – ‘How do you know me?’ Jesus replied, ”Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you” and broaching the subject of Jacob the beguiler before he became Israel, Jesus praised Nathaniel that unlike his ancestor he was a man without guile. Nathaniel at this mind blowing revelation of Jesus, straightaway concluded that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel to have such divine power to reveal what he had just meditated. Jesus replied, “If this one revelation of mine could convince you about my Sonship and Kingship, I assure you that you shall see greater revelations about Me in the coming days. You will even see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon Me” - which meant that He was the ladder which Jacob saw in his dream.

Jesus in this encounter with Nathaniel revealed not only to him, but also to the whole world that He is Jacob’s ladder and the only link God has established between heaven and earth. It is overwhelming to observe that God was standing on the other side of the ladder in heaven and the angels were ascending and descending on it (Genesis 28:12, 13a).

Thought for the day: Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life; No one comes to the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6)